Eyeglass frame of the folding or collapsible type



- Sept. 25, 1934.. GASPAR. 1,974,455

EYEGLASS FRAME OF THE FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE TYPE Filed March 16, 1934 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, I934 EYEGLASS FRA'MEiOF'THE-FOLDING on ration of New York Application zlvliarch 16,

v I 2 Claims} This inventionrelates to eyeglass frames ofthe folding or collapsible type, the principal object of theinvention being to provide animproved de-' vice for positively retaining the frame in folded condition,';and which device is releasable-inresponse to a very slight pressure betweenthe thumb and index finger of the operator thereby to permit return of the. glass frame to normal operative position. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying this specification,

Fig. l is a face view of a collapsible eyeglass frame embodying the present invention, the full and broken lines respectively showing the frame in folded and unfolded condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the locking clip detached from the frame;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the clip showing the same attached to one of the lens rims, the latter I being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the locking clip illustrating the manner in which it engages and locks the lens framein folded position, the lens rims being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4, but with the upper clamping member of the clip removed for clearness of illustration.

Referring to the drawing, the collapsible eyeglass frame comprises, as usual, a pair of lens! holding rims 1 and 2 connected together by a spring bridge piece 3, the opposite ends of which are hingedly connected to lugs formed on the peripheries of the respective rims, as indicated at 4 and 5, all in well-known manner, whereby the rims may be brought into overlying relation as shown in full lines in Fig. l, and locked in that position, and, when the locking device is released, will automatically assume the operative position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The present invention has to do especially with the locking device or clip. As shown herein, the

45.: clip comprises a pair of clamping members 6 and 7 hinged together about midway of their length, as indicated at 8. At one end, each of the clamping members is provided with jaw-forming flanges 9 and 10 respectively, said flanges being located so as to be in direct alinement with each -'and having its opposite elongated ends bearing 1934. seen No. #15345 C 39 4 i against the i respectiveclamp members as shown clearly'inFigs. 4 and 5." It will be obvious that any form' 'of spring-which will maintain the clamp members apart atone side of their hinge connecj tion will serve the purpose.

The'clamping-jaws '9, 10 are of peculiar formation along their meeting edges, as best shown in Fig. 3, wherein it will be seen that the two jaws are cut away-t0 form-between'them a circular aperture 12, atone side of which the edges o'f'the jaws are shouldered, as shown at 13, the shouldered portion being adjacent to the aperture 12 and extending to a height somewhat above said aperture. From the upper end of the shoulder the edges of the clamp members meet on a horizontal line as shown at 14. At the opposite side of the aperture the edges of the clamp members curve away from each other as shown at 15.

The jaw 9 of the lower clamp member is of cencave formation at its outer surface so as to fit snugly against the periphery of one of the'lens rims, preferably that one which is at the right when the glasses are in use, said rim being designated -2 in the, drawing. The clamp member may be secured to the lens rim by any suitable means. The other lens rim 1 is provided at the proper point on its periphery with a radially extending lug or stem preferably merging at its outer end in a rounded head or knob 16, said stem being adapted to lie in the aperture 12 formed by the clamping jaws of the clip thereby to lock the rims together in folded position.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clear from the foregoing description. When it is desired to lock the lens frames together as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, they are pressed toward each other in the well known manner until the peripheral stem of the rim 1 enters between the edges of the clamping jaws 9 and 10, whereupon, by reason of the curvature of those edges the stem will act to separate the clamping jaws against the tension of spring 11 until the stem drops into the aperture 12 and abuts against the shoulder or stop 13 of the lower jaw. The lens-carrying rims will then be in the folded or overlapping position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, in which position they will be held by reason of the fact that the knobbed stem 16 cannot leave the aperture 12 until the jaws are separated. Such separation is accomplished by slightly squeezing the outer ends of the clamp members toward each other, whereupon the stem will, under the tension of the spring bridge 3, pass backward out of the aperture and thus release the lens rim 1 so that it will return to the normal connected together and each having at one end ing link of the chain may be hooked. 'In order that the said chain may not interfere with the operation of the'clip when the clamping members are pressed together, the upper clamping member 7 may be slotted or cut away at its end, as indicated atj18, so that when iclamping members are pressed toward each other at that end, that portion of the chain connection lying above the member 6 will pass through the slotted opening in member 7 and thus permit free move= ment of the clamping members toward each other.

While I have described detail theflevioe illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not thereby limited to the precise features of construction illustrated, as I am aware that many mechanical modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto. e l

Having thus described :my' invention, what I claim is: a

l. A locking clip for fold'able eyeglass frames, comprising a pair of clamping members hingedly a flange extending toward and in the same plane with the flange of the companion member, a

spring normally maintaining the flanges in mutu-' al contact at their meeting edges, said meeting edges cooperating to form a centrally disposed perforation, a laterally extending guideway at one side of said perforation and ashoulder at the opposite side thereof. V

2. In a foldable eyeglass frame, the combination of a pair of lens rims flexibly connected togetherand adapted to be moved into overlapping position, tune. of said rims having a peripheral lug-n31 clip for retaining the rims in said position and comprising a pair-of clamping jaws hingedly connected together and having flexible means for retaining them in mutual contact, one of said jaws being secured to one of the lens rims and the contacting portions of the jaws cooperating to form an opening for the reception of said'lug and a laterally extending guideway at one side of said opening whereby manipmation of the rims into overlapping position the lug will separate the jaws against the tension of said flexible means and will be locked thereby in said opening, said jaws being separable by a slight pressure thereby to release said lug and permit return of the lens rims to operative position under the action of their flexible connection.

JOSEPH GASPARI.

ion 

